Integration of gift card services for mobile devices and social networking services

Abstract

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for social networking services integrated with gift card services. In general, a profile of a member of a social networking service may be presented with one or more merchant credit services for prepaid merchant account credit, data characterizing a request to provide a credit service from the merchant credit services and a mobile phone number associated with an intended recipient of the first credit service may be received, and a message may be caused to be sent to the mobile phone number, where the message characterizes provision of the first credit service to the intended recipient. Interest in the credit service may be tracked and associated with a loyalty indicator associated with the member.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for implementation by one or more data processors forming part of at least one computing system, the method comprising:
 causing to be presented to a purchaser, by at least one data processor of a social networking service, at least one website page of the social networking service including a profile of a selected member of the social networking service, wherein the profile comprising a picture of the selected member, a name of the selected member, contact information of the selected member, and one or more merchant credit services of prepaid merchant account credit, and wherein the social networking service providing at least one website in which a plurality of users interact with profiles of members of the social networking service via a graphical user interface and at least some of the users being members of the social networking service, the profiles further being generated by each of the respective members, and wherein the at least one website page including at least one graphical user interface element associated with each of the one or more merchant credit services, in which the at least one website page providing the at least one graphical user interface element to allow the purchaser to add or modify content displayed on the at least one website page; 
 receiving, via the graphical user interface of the social networking service and by at least one data processor, user-generated input initiating provision of the one or more merchant credit service to be provided to the selected member; and 
 transmitting, by at least one data processor, a message to an address or identifier of the selected member characterizing provision of the one or more merchant credit service. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user-generated input comprises payment information. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  further comprising:
 transmitting, by the social networking service in response the user-generated input, data to a gift card server comprising the payment information and information identifying the selected member; and 
 receiving, by the social networking service from the gift card server, data approving the provision of the first merchant credit service to the selected member. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the user-generated input further comprises gift card personalization information; and
 wherein:
 the data transmitted to the gift card server further comprises the gift card personalization information. 
 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the message transmitted to address or identifier of the selected member comprises at least a portion of the personalization information. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving, by the social networking service from a gift card server, data from a wireless gift card server comprising an interface to personalize delivery of the first merchant credit service. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6  further comprising:
 causing to be rendered, in the graphical user interface of the social networking service, a gift card personalization interface. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the gift card personalization interface is displayed in a frame of the graphical user interface of the social networking service such that a look and feel of the graphical user interface of the social networking service is preserved. 
     
     
       9. A method for implementation by one or more data processors forming part of at least one computing system, the method comprising:
 causing to be presented to a purchaser, by at least one data processor of a social networking service, at least one website page of the social networking service including a profile of a selected member that comprises a birthdate of the selected member and one or more merchant credit services of prepaid merchant account credit, wherein the social networking service providing at least one website in which a plurality of users interact with profiles of members of the social networking service via a graphical user interface and at least some of the users being members of the social networking service, and wherein the profiles being generated by each of the respective members, and wherein the at least one website page including at least one graphical user interface element associated with each of the one or more merchant credit services, in which the at least one website page providing the at least one graphical user interface element to allow the purchaser to add or modify content displayed on the at least one website page; 
 receiving, via the graphical user interface of the social networking service and by at least one data processor, user-generated input initiating provision of the one or more merchant credit service to be provided to the selected member; and 
 transmitting, by at least one data processor, a message to an address or identifier of the selected member characterizing provision of the one or more merchant credit service. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the user-generated input comprises payment information. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 transmitting, by the social networking service in response the user-generated input, data to a gift card server comprising the payment information and information identifying the selected member; and 
 receiving, by the social networking service from the gift card server, data approving the provision of the first merchant credit service to the selected member. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the user-generated input further comprises gift card personalization information; and
 wherein:
 the data transmitted to the gift card server further comprises the gift card personalization information. 
 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the message transmitted to the address or identifier of selected member comprises at least a portion of the personalization information. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9  further comprising:
 receiving, by the social networking service from a gift card server, data from a wireless gift card server comprising an interface to personalize delivery of the first merchant credit service. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 causing to be rendered, in the graphical user interface of the social networking service, a gift card personalization interface. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the gift card personalization interface is displayed in a frame of the graphical user interface of the social networking service such that a look and feel of the graphical user interface of the social networking service is preserved. 
     
     
       17. A method for implementation by one or more data processors forming part of at least one computing system, the method comprising:
 causing to be presented to a purchaser, by at least one data processor of a social networking service, at least one website page of the social networking service including a profile of a selected member that comprising one or more merchant credit services of prepaid merchant account credit, wherein the social networking service providing at least one website in which a plurality of users interact with profiles of members of the social networking service via a graphical user interface and at least some of the users being members of the social networking service, and wherein the profiles being generated by each of the respective members, and wherein the at least one website page including at least one graphical user interface element associated with each of the one or more merchant credit services, in which the at least one website page providing the at least one graphical user interface element to allow the purchaser to add or modify content displayed on the at least one website page; 
 integrating, by the social networking service, data from a gift card server that enables provision of at least one merchant credit service to a recipient; and 
 causing, by the social networking service, the integrated data to be displayed in the graphical user interface. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17  further comprising:
 receiving, via the graphical user interface of the social networking service and by at least one data processor, user-generated input initiating provision of a first merchant credit service to be provided to the selected member; and 
 transmitting, by at least one data processor, a message to the selected member characterizing provision of the first merchant credit service. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the message is transmitted via a messaging protocol to a mobile phone associated with the selected member. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the message is transmitted to a social network message address for the selected member. 
     
     
       21. A non-transitory computer program product storing instructions which, when executed by one or more data processors forming part of at least one computing system, result in operations comprising:
 causing at least one website page of a social networking service including a profile of a selected member of the social networking service to be presented to a purchaser, wherein the profile comprising a picture of the selected member, a name of the selected member, contact information of the selected member, and one or more merchant credit services of prepaid merchant account credit, and wherein the social networking service providing at least one website in which a plurality of users interact with profiles of members of the social networking service via a graphical user interface and at least some of the users being members of the social networking service, the profiles further being generated by each of the respective members, and wherein the at least one website page including at least one graphical user interface element associated with each of the one or more merchant credit services, in which the at least one website page providing the at least one graphical user interface element to allow the purchaser to add or modify content displayed on the at least one website page; 
 receiving user-generated input initiating provision of the one or more merchant credit service to be provided to the selected member; and 
 transmitting a message to an address or identifier of the selected member characterizing provision of the one or more merchant credit service. 
 
     
     
       22. The computer program product of  claim 21 , wherein the user-generated input comprises payment information. 
     
     
       23. The computer program product of  claim 22 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 transmitting data comprising the payment information and information identifying the selected member; and 
 receiving data approving the provision of the first merchant credit service to the selected member. 
 
     
     
       24. The computer program product of  claim 23 , wherein the user-generated input further comprises gift card personalization information; and
 wherein:
 the transmitted data transmitted further comprises the gift card personalization information. 
 
 
     
     
       25. The computer program product of  claim 24 , wherein the message transmitted to address or identifier of the selected member comprises at least a portion of the personalization information. 
     
     
       26. The computer program product of  claim 21 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving data comprising an interface to personalize delivery of the first merchant credit service. 
 
     
     
       27. The computer program product of  claim 26 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 causing a gift card personalization interface to be rendered. 
 
     
     
       28. The computer program product of  claim 27 , wherein the gift card personalization interface is displayed in a frame of a graphical user interface of the social networking service such that a look and feel of the graphical user interface of the social networking service is preserved. 
     
     
       29. A non-transitory computer program product storing instructions which, when executed by one or more data processors forming part of at least one computing system, result in operations comprising:
 causing at least one website page of a social networking service including a profile of a selected member that comprising a birthdate of the selected member and one or more merchant credit services of prepaid merchant account credit to be presented to a purchaser, wherein the social networking service providing at least one website in which a plurality of users interact with profiles of members of the social networking service via a graphical user interface and at least some of the users being members of the social networking service, and wherein the profiles being generated by each of the respective members, and wherein the at least one website page including at least one graphical user interface element associated with each of the one or more merchant credit services, in which the at least one website page providing the at least one graphical user interface element to allow the purchaser to add or modify content displayed on the at least one website page; 
 receiving user-generated input initiating provision of the one or more merchant credit service to be provided to the selected member; and 
 transmitting a message to an address or identifier of the selected member characterizing provision of the one or more merchant credit service. 
 
     
     
       30. The computer program product of  claim 29 , wherein the user-generated input comprises payment information. 
     
     
       31. The computer program product of  claim 30 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 transmitting data comprising the payment information and information identifying the selected member; and 
 receiving data approving the provision of the first merchant credit service to the selected member. 
 
     
     
       32. The computer program product of  claim 31 , wherein the user-generated input further comprises gift card personalization information; and
 wherein:
 the transmitted data further comprises the gift card personalization information. 
 
 
     
     
       33. The computer program product of  claim 32 , wherein the message transmitted to the address or identifier of selected member comprises at least a portion of the personalization information. 
     
     
       34. The computer program product of  claim 29 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving data comprising an interface to personalize delivery of the first merchant credit service. 
 
     
     
       35. The computer program product of  claim 34 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 causing a gift card personalization interface to be rendered. 
 
     
     
       36. The computer program product of  claim 35 , wherein the gift card personalization interface is displayed in a frame of a graphical user interface of the social networking service such that a look and feel of the graphical user interface of the social networking service is preserved. 
     
     
       37. A non-transitory computer program product storing instructions which, when executed by one or more data processors forming part of at least one computing system, result in operations comprising:
 causing at least one website page of a social networking service including a profile of a selected member that comprising one or more merchant credit services of prepaid merchant account credit to be presented to a purchaser, wherein the social networking service providing at least one website in which a plurality of users interact with profiles of members of the social networking service via a graphical user interface and at least some of the users being members of the social networking service, and wherein the profiles being generated by each of the respective members, and wherein the at least one website page including at least one graphical user interface element associated with each of the one or more merchant credit services, in which the at least one website page providing the at least one graphical user interface element to allow the purchaser to add or modify content displayed on the at least one website page; 
 integrating data that enables provision of at least one merchant credit service to a recipient; and 
 causing the integrated data to be displayed in the graphical user interface. 
 
     
     
       38. The computer program product of  claim 37 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving user-generated input initiating provision of a first merchant credit service to be provided to the selected member; and 
 transmitting a message to the selected member characterizing provision of the first merchant credit service. 
 
     
     
       39. The computer program product of  claim 38 , wherein the message is transmitted via a messaging protocol to a mobile phone associated with the selected member. 
     
     
       40. The computer program product of  claim 38 , wherein the message is transmitted to a social network message address for the selected member. 
     
     
       41. A non-transitory computer program product storing instructions which, when executed by one or more data processors forming part of at least one computing system, result in operations comprising:
 causing at least one website page of a social networking service including a profile of a selected member of the social networking service to be presented to a purchaser, wherein the profile comprising a picture of the selected member, a name of the selected member, contact information of the selected member, and one or more merchant credit services of prepaid merchant account credit, and wherein the social networking service providing at least one website in which a plurality of users interact with profiles of members of the social networking service via a graphical user interface and at least some of the users being members of the social networking service, the profiles further being generated by each of the respective members, and wherein the at least one website page including at least one graphical user interface element associated with each of the one or more merchant credit services, in which the at least one website page providing the at least one graphical user interface element to allow the purchaser to add or modify content displayed on the at least one website page; 
 receiving user-generated input initiating provision of the one or more merchant credit service to be provided to the selected member; and 
 transmitting a message to an address or identifier of the selected member characterizing provision of the one or more merchant credit service. 
 
     
     
       42. The computer program product of  claim 41 , wherein the user-generated input comprises payment information. 
     
     
       43. The computer program product of  claim 42 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 transmitting data comprising the payment information and information identifying the selected member; and 
 receiving data approving the provision of the first merchant credit service to the selected member. 
 
     
     
       44. The computer program product of  claim 43 , wherein the user-generated input further comprises gift card personalization information; and
 wherein:
 the transmitted data transmitted further comprises the gift card personalization information. 
 
 
     
     
       45. The computer program product of  claim 44 , wherein the message transmitted to address or identifier of the selected member comprises at least a portion of the personalization information. 
     
     
       46. The computer program product of  claim 41 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving data comprising an interface to personalize delivery of the first merchant credit service. 
 
     
     
       47. The computer program product of  claim 46 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 causing a gift card personalization interface to be rendered. 
 
     
     
       48. The computer program product of  claim 47 , wherein the gift card personalization interface is displayed in a frame of a graphical user interface of the social networking service such that a look and feel of the graphical user interface of the social networking service is preserved. 
     
     
       49. A non-transitory computer program product storing instructions which, when executed by one or more data processors forming part of at least one computing system, result in operations comprising:
 causing at least one website page of a social networking service including a profile of a selected member that comprising a birthdate of the selected member and one or more merchant credit services of prepaid merchant account credit to be presented to a purchaser, wherein the social networking service providing at least one website in which a plurality of users interact with profiles of members of the social networking service via a graphical user interface and at least some of the users being members of the social networking service, and wherein the profiles being generated by each of the respective members, and wherein the at least one website page including at least one graphical user interface element associated with each of the one or more merchant credit services, in which the at least one website page providing the at least one graphical user interface element to allow the purchaser to add or modify content displayed on the at least one website page; 
 receiving user-generated input initiating provision of the one or more merchant credit service to be provided to the selected member; and 
 transmitting a message to an address or identifier of the selected member characterizing provision of the one or more merchant credit service. 
 
     
     
       50. The computer program product of  claim 49 , wherein the user-generated input comprises payment information. 
     
     
       51. The computer program product of  claim 50 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 transmitting data comprising the payment information and information identifying the selected member; and 
 receiving data approving the provision of the first merchant credit service to the selected member. 
 
     
     
       52. The computer program product of  claim 51 , wherein the user-generated input further comprises gift card personalization information; and
 wherein:
 the transmitted data further comprises the gift card personalization information. 
 
 
     
     
       53. The computer program product of  claim 52 , wherein the message transmitted to the address or identifier of selected member comprises at least a portion of the personalization information. 
     
     
       54. The computer program product of  claim 49 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving data comprising an interface to personalize delivery of the first merchant credit service. 
 
     
     
       55. The computer program product of  claim 54 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 causing a gift card personalization interface to be rendered. 
 
     
     
       56. The computer program product of  claim 55 , wherein the gift card personalization interface is displayed in a frame of a graphical user interface of the social networking service such that a look and feel of the graphical user interface of the social networking service is preserved. 
     
     
       57. A non-transitory computer program product storing instructions which, when executed by one or more data processors forming part of at least one computing system, result in operations comprising:
 causing at least one website page of a social networking service including a profile of a selected member that comprising one or more merchant credit services of prepaid merchant account credit to be presented to a purchaser, wherein the social networking service providing at least one website in which a plurality of users interact with profiles of members of the social networking service via a graphical user interface and at least some of the users being members of the social networking service, and wherein the profiles being generated by each of the respective members, and wherein the at least one website page including at least one graphical user interface element associated with each of the one or more merchant credit services, in which the at least one website page providing the at least one graphical user interface element to allow the purchaser to add or modify content displayed on the at least one website page; 
 integrating data that enables provision of at least one merchant credit service to a recipient; and 
 causing the integrated data to be displayed in the graphical user interface. 
 
     
     
       58. The computer program product of  claim 57 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving user-generated input initiating provision of a first merchant credit service to be provided to the selected member; and 
 transmitting a message to the selected member characterizing provision of the first merchant credit service. 
 
     
     
       59. The computer program product of  claim 58 , wherein the message is transmitted via a messaging protocol to a mobile phone associated with the selected member. 
     
     
       60. The computer program product of  claim 58 , wherein the message is transmitted to a social network message address for the selected member. 
     
     
       61. A system comprising:
 means for causing at least one website page of a social networking service including a profile of a selected member of the social networking service to be presented to a purchaser, wherein the profile comprising a picture of the selected member, a name of the selected member, contact information of the selected member, and one or more merchant credit services of prepaid merchant account credit, and wherein the social networking service providing at least one website in which a plurality of users interact with profiles of members of the social networking service via a graphical user interface and at least some of the users being members of the social networking service, the profiles further being generated by each of the respective members, and wherein the at least one website page including at least one graphical user interface element associated with each of the one or more merchant credit services, in which the at least one website page providing the at least one graphical user interface element to allow the purchaser to add or modify content displayed on the at least one website page; 
 means for receiving user-generated input initiating provision of the one or more merchant credit service to be provided to the selected member; and 
 means for transmitting a message to an address or identifier of the selected member characterizing provision of the one or more merchant credit service. 
 
     
     
       62. A system comprising:
 means for causing at least one website page of a social networking service including a profile of a selected member that comprising a birthdate of the selected member and one or more merchant credit services of prepaid merchant account credit to be presented to a purchaser, wherein the social networking service providing at least one website in which a plurality of users interact with profiles of members of the social networking service via a graphical user interface and at least some of the users being members of the social networking service, and wherein the profiles being generated by each of the respective members, and wherein the at least one website page including at least one graphical user interface element associated with each of the one or more merchant credit services, in which the at least one website page providing the at least one graphical user interface element to allow the purchaser to add or modify content displayed on the at least one website page; 
 means for receiving user-generated input initiating provision of the one or more merchant credit service to be provided to the selected member; and 
 means for transmitting a message to an address or identifier of the selected member characterizing provision of the one or more merchant credit service. 
 
     
     
       63. A system comprising:
 means for causing at least one website page of a social networking service including a profile of a selected member that comprising one or more merchant credit services of prepaid merchant account credit to be presented to a purchaser, wherein the social networking service providing at least one website in which a plurality of users interact with profiles of members of the social networking service via a graphical user interface and at least some of the users being members of the social networking service, and wherein the profiles being generated by each of the respective members, and wherein the at least one website page including at least one graphical user interface element associated with each of the one or more merchant credit services, in which the at least one website page providing the at least one graphical user interface element to allow the purchaser to add or modify content displayed on the at least one website page; 
 means for integrating data that enables provision of at least one merchant credit service to a recipient; and 
 means for causing the integrated data to be displayed in the graphical user interface.